At the very end of 2003, the Federal Drug Administration banned the sale of any product containing ephedra. This was the first time that the organization stepped in and prohibited the sale of a natural supplement. Ephedra had been linked in the death of baseball pitcher Steve Bechler at the time of the ban, in addition to causing palpitations, tremors, and insomnia in others taking the supplement.
Used to control weight and increase energy, manufacturers claimed that the supplement was safe when used properly, but multiple studies concluded differently.
According to the Annals of Internal Medicine, 64% of the serious side effects associated with supplements that were reported were related to ephedra, yet the supplement only accounted for less than one percent of all supplement sales.
Because of the ban, many companies have been researching new ways to help promote easy and quick weight loss without using ephedra. However, it turns out that these new weight-loss aids are just as risky as ephedra.
Bitter orange is being used to replace ephedra, and while it might have some of the same adverse health effects that ephedra had, researchers at the University of California felt that human studies on this were lacking. Therefore, they set out to determine the risks associated with using bitter orange, which is also known by its scientific name, Citrus aurantium. Bitter orange contains ‘synephrine,’ a compound that is chemically similar to an ingredient found in ephedra.
The study examined 10 healthy adults, all of whom were non-smokers and between the ages of 18 and 42. They cleared their systems of caffeine, medications, and herbal products for a day preceding the study.
Participants were given dose of “Advantra Z,” which was made up of 46.9 mg of synephrine, or a dose of “Xenadrine EFX,” which contained 5.5 mg of synephrine in addition to caffeine and ‘octopamine,’ or a placebo. There were administered randomly. But, each participant was given one single dose of each supplement with a one-week rest period in between.
Researchers found that as compared to the placebo, the dose of Xenadrine EFX increased blood pressure, while Advantra Z did not have a significant effect. However, both treatments raised the heart rates of the participants, between just over 11 beats per minute and just under 17 beats per minute.
The study found that ephedra-free weight-loss supplements still affect the cardiovascular system in the same way that ephedra did. However, researchers noted that it was likely not due to the bitter orange alone, because Advantra Z, which contained only bitter orange, did not affect blood pressure. However, when mixed with caffeine and other stimulants, blood pressure was raised significantly in the participants.
While many people are looking for quick and easy weight loss solutions, these supplements might not be the way to go. The best way to lose weight is to exercise and eat a well-balanced diet. Simply walking for 45 minutes four times a week can boost your metabolism and help you get healthier and slimmer.
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